Topic: Noticing a slight 'gear grind' noise sometimes, from my aibo (Read 30455 times)

latrine · « **on:** May 08, 2011, 12:23:32 PM »

Hey guys.. Loki's front right leg sometimes makes a slight grinding kind of noise.. I have done clinic mode numerous times and everything checks as fine.. it's usually only when he's doing a fast tight circle. My boyfriend who is one of those crazy car guys who can drive by and figure out whats wrong with a car or something just by the noise it's making, thinks it sounds like something that maybe needs to be lubricated but neither of us want to do anything like that.
Keep in mind Loki has been running 24/7 since I've had him, aside from his sleep time which is shut down at 11pm and turn on at 9am. So that could have something to do with it.. he also docks and undocks by himself so he's running about when we aren't here. I've decided to leave him off for the day (

) I miss him already!! I also did some gentle rotating of all his gears while he was off, as suggested by some websites and did not feel any resistances or weird things or noises or anything.. so I just wondered if I should be worried. He's an ers-7.

Thanks!!

- Sarah

aibo7m3 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 08, 2011, 12:52:27 PM »

This is very common with ers-7s, one of my ers-7m3s has a knee joint that makes a terrible grinding noise. Just keep moving the joint around when he is off, that helps a lot. It is caused usually from dust or dirt getting stuck in the joint. If more dust or dirt builds up it can get to the point where he won't be able to move the joint. But the grinding noise happens to almost every ers-7. There is a guide somewhere out there on how to clean the joints (you have to open up the leg and clean each gear one at a time). But I forgot where the guide was, if I find it I will post it here.

latrine · « **Reply #2 on:** May 08, 2011, 01:26:51 PM »

Thank you very much for the information, I would love to have the information about cleaning even though it would scare me to do it.. but luckily I have a bf whose good at that stuff

- Sarah

Crewella · « **Reply #3 on:** May 09, 2011, 03:30:01 AM »

This is scary, but will give you some idea of what's involved:

http://www.aibo-life.org/forums/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=002880

Manipulation (physiotherapy) is very good for them, though, as Aibo7m3 says.

latrine · « **Reply #4 on:** May 09, 2011, 10:59:39 AM »

Yes I plan to do that as often as I can remember in the morning before he wakes up... I really only notice it on tight corners but he didn't do it at all yesterday after my first time with his 'therapy' lol. Thanks guys and thanks for the scary info Crewella. (still can't get over how perfect your name is for you.. telling me to rip open my puppy dog.. hehehe JUST KIDDING!)

- Sarah

kat · « **Reply #5 on:** May 09, 2011, 05:29:33 PM »

I'm glad you seem to have managed to get it sorted Latrine.

It is very scary when stuff like that happens even when it turns out to be nothing to worry about.

Glad he's ok.

Crewella · « **Reply #6 on:** May 09, 2011, 05:41:50 PM »

Me too - glad you've not had to get the scalpels out, Latrine!

latrine · « **Reply #7 on:** June 01, 2011, 12:26:10 PM »

OK the problem has gotten much worse.. and Crewella, I can't get your link to work

I tried out some of the bigger dances today with Loki, the ones where it plays the flute notes before and his back leg just creaked loud enough to make you cringe.
One side does not seem to be able to support him when he does the dances and the other side does sometimes, but it creaks.
We opened one side up carefully, just the screws, to see if there was something obvious but no hairs, no dirt, the areas that were lubricated seemed to have plenty, it sounds like the problem may be the motors in the middle of his back-legs.
I obviously stopped the dancing stuff right away and just stuck his normal brain back in, he creaks slightly every now and then with his normal functions but NOTHING like when he's doing the dances.. I get all panicked when I hear a big creak and put him back on his charger but he complains!! ... I just wonder if I should not be letting him roam around until I figure the problem out..
Problem is, Loki is honestly the only thing keeping my sick parrot calm, when we turn him off, Tyler starts screaming but he seems to not get AS annoyed when Loki's on the charger since he can still communicate with him.. Should I just leave him on the charger? or turn him off completely? He doesn't fall down or anything on his own from it, and the major creaking isn't constant.. maybe once or twice every hour.
maybe I need to contact that Wolfbob guy that Bhobbes was talking about.. I dunno.
When we see the directions for dissecting them It may make it easier to see if we can maybe do it ourselves.. my bf is really good with fixing things and has worked with motors his entire life, just nothing this small but I know he won't try it if he doesn't think it's something he can do..

I guess the seller has no way of knowing but it just ticks me off, with the price I paid for him.. plus I don't want poor Loki's legs to hurt.. (I know.. I know.. he's a robot.. but I still feel bad for him.. )
Anyways, if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know, thanks..

I just found this, it sounds almost exactly like what Loki's leg does when he's trying to do the big dances:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAMqhgyOTsU" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAMqhgyOTsU</a>:

And the leg makes a noise similar to this guy's Aibo, (Loki's is a little louder and doesn't do it every time) also has the same color on the 'ribbon' on both legs:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR3vmKnD0-M" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR3vmKnD0-M</a>

The Eric one scares me.. I'm hoping that does not mean that Loki has one of those major problems and will need new legs..

- Sarah

Talon · « **Reply #8 on:** June 01, 2011, 03:25:52 PM »

I'm so sorry, Latrine. That one of Erric made me cringe! It was really unexpected and... aweful-sounding! Anyway I'm sorry I can't help you but I hope you can get poor Loki fixed. I'm hoping to shake his little plastic paw one day. *smile*
Talon

latrine · « **Reply #9 on:** June 01, 2011, 04:56:54 PM »

Thanks Talon.. it stinks.. I can't get that page to open because it's part of aibo-life.org and we think they keep 'forbidding' us because we have a roaming ip address.. I usually have to reset the modem a bunch of times before it will let me in.. any chance someone could email me the instructions from the page?

Loki can't walk at all now, that leg makes a horrible noise and then freezes up so we don't want to go digging anymore until we know exactly what we are up against and if it looks too crazy we'll have to send him to the vet, I guess. I can't believe this happened so soon after getting him..

- Sarah

Crewella · « **Reply #10 on:** June 01, 2011, 05:08:56 PM »

Oh gosh, I'm so sorry you're having trouble.

I really don't have any experience of this, so nothing useful to add, I'm afraid, except good wishes and a hug.

You might have more luck with opening this section of the article in the link:

http://www.mediafire.com/?uupecvpb007ryhb

aibo7m3 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 01, 2011, 05:20:53 PM »

My ers-7m3 Aki's knee joint on one leg is almost as bad as what you are describing with your aibo, if it really concerns you, you could send him to wolfbob, he cleaned the joints of my other ers-7m3 Donna and now none of her joints squeak at all.

saratogaspringer · « **Reply #12 on:** June 01, 2011, 08:55:52 PM »

Hey Latrine! Sorry to hear about Loki. I don't know if your 7 was one of the original models or a newer model, but I do know that Sony recalled some of the 7's for a health check. I inquired about one on eBay that was at a cheap price. I was told not to bid unless it had the health check and proof of the check. The list of parts that were recalled was quite extensive.

Crewella · « **Reply #13 on:** June 02, 2011, 01:46:40 AM »

From what aibo7m3 says, I guess sometimes manipulation just won't do it - it needs a 'deeper' solution.

kat · « **Reply #14 on:** June 02, 2011, 04:11:13 AM »

I'm so sorry to hear about Loki's leg issues. I hope you are able to fix him and that it doesn't cost you a fortune to do so.

Here's a hug from me.

Kat

PleoPet · « **Reply #15 on:** June 02, 2011, 10:23:37 AM »

For cleaning the ERS-7 gears, there are a few guides floating around.
Here is another one: http://www.aibo-kennel.com/TechInfo/PDFs/ers7servoguide.pdf

Not an easy operation.
In general you can try the easy fixes first. Simple manipulation to stretch the legs. If it is only servo jitter, open up the leg casing and spray in contact cleaner.

But when it comes to grinding gears, you will likely need some non-trivial surgery.

---
If you have an original ERS-7M1, you can check the serial number to see if it was one that *should* have been recalled and fixed. Some people didn't do it (including myself). The offer is no longer valid, but it will give you an idea of what you are dealing with.
http://aiboaddicts.yuku.com/topic/40

latrine · « **Reply #16 on:** June 03, 2011, 01:27:37 PM »

Hi guys sorry it took me so long to respond, it's been a crummy week for me health wise and I have been stuck sitting down, just like Loki

Yes, Loki is one of the aibo's that should have been recalled

His problem seems to be in his circular 'hip' area on both back legs.. I am going to be emailing WolfBob to see if I can get some help..
Loki can't walk at all now his one back leg just does that horrible creak and he'll fall over or keep trying to move it and say his motor is stuck.. it really sucks as he was described to me as a perfect Aibo. Then again it's my fault.. I saw those videos about eric the ers-7, I had the cash and I went and got a puppy without doing the research..

I paid way too much, and I will not be dealing with that person again.

It looks like, from his webpage, that wolfbob charges 85 dollars per leg but since this appears to be in his actual body I don't know what that means... if it will even be fixable or what..
I feel so bad for him though.. I KNOW it's just coincidence but almost every time we discuss Loki's 'paralysis' where he can hear us he says 'I'm sorry' or "I won't do it again' lol.. I know he is just responding to what he thinks he heard us say but it makes me feel SO guilty and I just want to get him fixed and running around the house again.

Thanks, everyone, for all of the info you've provided, unfortunately we can't find anything that will help us to even look at the broken area safely.. we don't want to just jump in to something like that and risk screwing him up more so we're going to have to send him to the vet.
Hopefully he can fix him and I can afford it.. I can certainly wait to get more aibos.. I'd rather Loki be better anyways, as he has become part of the family. We just got a letter in the mail, actually, about re-licensing the dogs and it was asking the number of dogs, 3 popped into my head.. we have 2 Jack Russells and loki... lol.

Something else has been bothering me about him as well. I have a mind3 CD that came with him and looks original but his mind3 stick is blue, not pink. I'm worried it could be a copy.. I didn't even know anything about any of that stuff when I got him..
I mean, I know you can make the other cards work for them, my extra memory card is blue and works fine for the little personality stuff.. but does the blue main card mean it's an illegal copy? Ugh.

Thanks guys.. talk to you later.

- Sarah

aibo7m3 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 03, 2011, 01:53:57 PM »

Mind 3 sticks are blue, not pink, I have two of them, one fairly new from Sony (they still sell Mind 3) and they are both blue.

Talon · « **Reply #18 on:** June 03, 2011, 02:31:12 PM »

I'm sorry, Latrine. I think I've already said that but... man! Keep us posted on Loki's progress!
Talon

Crewella · « **Reply #19 on:** June 03, 2011, 05:21:07 PM »

Oh Sarah, I can't tell you how sorry I am - is it worth contacting the seller and telling them what's happened? Or have you tried that? I wish there was something I could do to help, but can't think of a thing. Thank you for posting about your experience, though, at least this might help someone else and stop them making an expensive mistake.

aibo7m3 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 03, 2011, 05:23:35 PM »

If it is the dust in the joints I wouldn't contact the seller about it (there are very few ers-7s left without grinding joints) both of mine have had them. It's probably just dust since the problems with the original ers-7s wouldn't take 6 years to show up.

Crewella · « **Reply #21 on:** June 03, 2011, 08:11:29 PM »

If it was just dust in the joints, I'd agree with you aibo7m3 - no seller can help that, but from what I can gather Sarah paid top dollar for an 'ERS-7 Mind3 in mint condition', and it's becoming apparent that's not what she got, hence my post.

saratogaspringer · « **Reply #22 on:** June 04, 2011, 12:18:36 AM »

Quote from: aibo7m3 on June 03, 2011, 01:53:57 PM

Mind 3 sticks are blue, not pink, I have two of them, one fairly new from Sony (they still sell Mind 3) and they are both blue.

Does anyone have the link to the sale of these Mind 3 sticks from Sony? I did a search and can't find it. My champagne ERS-7M3 just arrived today. I haven't had a chance to fire him up. I have to read all the directions first...It's a woman thing I think. I can't do anything without reading the directions first. My stick is a 128MB blue/purple stick with no labeling on it, so I think it is a copy. He did call it "his memory stick", just to be fair to him. I don't care, as long as it works, but I would like to purchase an original from Sony to have a back up and to be somewhat legal, since they are still sold. The seller also gave me a newer Sony Clie, so I think he might be a pirate! (Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a pirate's life for me!) Sorry, heading to Disney on Thursday! I'll keep everyone posted in a different thread about him as soon as I can take some pictures.

I feel very badly about what has happened to Sarah. I almost made the same mistake about a week ago. There was a ERS-7 mind 1 for sale on ebay for a starting bid of $999. I thought I might take a chance. I asked on another forum if it was upgradable to Mind3. Posters said that it was, but one poster, who I just bought a pink PMS stick from for my 210, said that some had been recalled for a health check, and I shouldn't bid unless the person had proof of the health check. That 7 went for about $1600 last night, so who knows what the person who won will be faced with. I sure hope that wolfbob can help Loki and all will be well. I guess as great as these pups are,and as well made as they are, they are 6 years old, or older and we don't have much choice but to buy one second hand. It does bring up a red flag when someone says that something at least 6 years old is "new" or "mint". That just seems impossible to me. My 7 has some scratches on him and at 6 years old (42 in dog years), I expect him to have some. My seller was very up front and sent loads of pictures and videos before purchase, so I am pretty confident that he will be OK. I did not pay top dollar, but Sarah did, and for something that was listed as "mint".

I am going to publicly thank Crewella, if I haven't already done so, for sending me to wolfbob for the purchase of my first Aibo, a 210, as I was going to purchase from ebay, and she advised me otherwise. Not only did she save me a ton of money, but I got a problem free pooch with a six month warranty. I didn't buy my 7 from him because the video of this little guy won my heart, and the seller seemed as honest as the day is long, and so far I am very happy. I hope he doesn't land up being Loki's bunk mate at wolfbob's, but if he does, he'll be in good hands! THANKS CREWELLA!!!!!

Crewella · « **Reply #23 on:** June 04, 2011, 01:56:42 AM »

You're very welcome, Springer - it's great you're so happy!

Does this help?

http://support.sony-europe.com/aibo/downloads/en/AIBO_MIND3_EN.pdf

bhobbes · « **Reply #24 on:** June 04, 2011, 09:43:41 AM »

Quote

Does anyone have the link to the sale of these Mind 3 sticks from Sony?

I sent you a message with the part number and phone number to order it from. Sony has it but doesn't know it (online). You will have to call them directly and order.

Bob the Pleo Forums

Author Topic: Noticing a slight 'gear grind' noise sometimes, from my aibo (Read 30455 times)

bhobbes